Method for selling pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing equipment online

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method for selling integrated circuit manufacturing systems online, wherein the method includes receiving information representing a integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase, posting the information on an electronically viewable medium, and receiving an electronically transmitted bid for the integrated circuit manufacturing system from a buyer. The method further includes transmitting the bid to a seller, receiving a bid acceptance from the seller, and providing technical services related to the integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase to at least one of the buyer and seller through an integrated online service.

1 . A method for selling pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing systems online, comprising: 
 receiving information representing an integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase;    posting the information on an electronically viewable medium, wherein the information is posted by a site host;    receiving an electronically transmitted bid for the integrated circuit manufacturing system from a buyer;    transmitting the bid to a seller;    receiving a bid acceptance from the seller; and    providing technical services related to the integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase to at least one of the buyer and seller through an integrated online service, wherein providing technical services comprises at least one of providing system inspection services, providing system audit services, providing system decontamination services, and providing system refurbishment services, and wherein the technical services are provided by the site host.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the site host is a manufacturer of integrated circuit manufacturing equipment.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit manufacturing system is selected from the group consisting of material deposition chambers and systems, material removal chambers and systems, mainframes, polishers, planarization equipment, wafer orientors, and annealing chambers.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buyer pays a single entity for both the integrated circuit manufacturing system and the technical services.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein posting the information comprises posting information representative of the integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase on an Internet web site of the site host.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein posting the information comprises electronically disseminating information regarding the integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase to targeted potential buyers.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an electronically transmitted bid comprises receiving an electronic bid message in a semiconductor equipment sales web site of the site host.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing payment and shipping arrangements between the buyer and seller.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the payment arrangements comprise at least one of an online escrow account arrangement, a cash on delivery arrangement, a credit arrangement, and a billable account set up with a site host web site.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving identification information from buyers and sellers, the identification information being calculated to facilitate secure access to the electronically viewable medium.  
   
   
       11 . A method for selling used integrated circuit manufacturing equipment through an integrated electronic sales and technical service platform, comprising: 
 posting information regarding pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing systems available for purchase on an Internet web site, wherein the information is posted by a site host;    providing integrated technical services from the site host through the Internet web site that are related to the sale of the pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing systems, wherein providing integrated technical services comprises at least one of providing system inspection services, providing system audit services, providing system decontamination services, and providing system refurbishment services;    receiving an electronic purchase bid for a specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system posted on the Internet web site;    transmitting the electronic purchase bid to a seller of the specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system; and    receiving a purchase bid acceptance from the seller.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the site host is a manufacturer of integrated circuit manufacturing equipment.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing systems are selected from the group consisting of material deposition chambers and systems, material removal chambers and systems, mainframes, polishers, planarization equipment, wafer orientors, and annealing chambers.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the integrated technical services are provided for the specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system before the specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system is shipped to a buyer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein posting information comprises: 
 electronically receiving information regarding a pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase from a seller;    converting the electronically received information into a format suitable for display on the Internet web site; and    displaying information representative of the pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system available for purchase on the Internet web site for viewing by potential purchasers.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein posting information comprises disseminating information regarding the pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing systems available for purchase to predetermined potential buyers.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving an electronic purchase bid comprises receiving an electronic purchase bid having at least one condition of sale relating to technical services to be conducted on the specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one payment and shipping option to a buyer of the specific pre-owned integrated circuit manufacturing system.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one payment option comprises at least one of an online escrow account, a cash on delivery arrangement, a credit arrangement, and a billable account.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving identification information from a buyer and the seller, wherein the identification information may be used to provide secure access to the Internet web site.